Electric switch



April 1937. H. K. ANDREWS 2,077,089

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 1, 1934 fia:

INVENTOR Patented Apr. 13, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCH Application May 1, 1934, Serial No. 723,364

13 Claims.

This invention relates to electric switches and has for one of its objects to provide an extremely simple, compact, rugged and inexpensive construction for such a switch.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric switch having a plurality of contacts with an actuating member with which the sequence at which the actuating member engages the various contacts can be changed at will.

A further object of this invention is to provide an electric switch having a plurality of contact positions which can be directly shut off from any contact position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a switch having a plurality of contacts with an actuating member which can be progressively moved from one contact to the other and back to its starting position without retracing any of its movements.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric switch having a plurality of contacts with an actuating member located centrally of the switch and having a substantially rotary movement which makes the operation of the switch extremely convenient while the switch is held in the hand.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric switch with a plurality of fixed contacts concentrically grouped around a central contact and an actuating member movable on the central contact and between it and the plurality of contacts to provide a wiping action between the actuating member and all of the electrical connections made therein.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric switch with a combined locking member for the actuating member and the anchoring member for the terminal and contact unit.

Another object of this invention is to provide an electric switch with a housing having spreading members for the wire ends to keep the wire ends from pulling out of the housing.

All these and other objects and attendant advantages will become more readily apparent from the detailed description of the invention which follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of the novel switch.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the switch, the section being taken on the line 2x2.r of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the switch.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the switch with the cover plate and actuating member removed therefrom.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the cover plate and actuating member mounted therein.

Figure 6 is a detail side elevation of the terminal and contact unit.

Figure '7 is a bottom plan view of the terminal and contact unit.

In the several figures of the drawing like reference numerals indicate like parts.

The switch forming the subject matter of this invention is illustrated and described in the form of a through switch so as to be adapted for varying the circuit connections to an electrically controlled device such as a heating pad. However, it is understood that the invention is not limited to this embodiment nor to such use.

In the illustrative construction the switch is enclosed in a substantially fiat casing which is horizontally divided in the middle into the base I and the cover 2. Both the cover and the base are hollowed out and into each end lead suitable ducts which together form the conductor openings 3 at each end of the casing. In the hollow portion of the base and cover and located near each of the conductor openings 3 are the elongated spreading and anchoring lugs 4, 4. The clamping bolts 5,5 pass thru holes 6, 6 in the base and cover and their anchoring lugs 4 so as to firmly hold the base and cover clamped together. The lugs 4 extend across the conductor openings 3 within the casing but are spaced from them sufiiciently to permit one or more wires from the conductor to pass around each side of the lug and thus hold these wires spread apart and out of line with the conductor openings in order to keep these wires from pulling out of the con ductor openings when a pull is exerted on the conductor.

In the middle of the base I and to one side of the center line thereof is provided the anchoring lug l which has a substantially reentrant or V shaped recess 8 on the inside thereof. The terminal and contact unit is held anchored in place by this anchoring lug and for this purpose the base 9 of the terminal and contact unit is provided with a hole It having the outline of the anchoring lug to permit the anchoring lug to project therethru and hold the terminal and contact unit in a predetermined fixed position within the base I. On the base 9 of the terminal and contact unit is mounted a central contact stud II to which is connected the terminal l2 which extends below the base 9 to the edge thereof (see Figure '7) and projects upwardly therefrom to have the wire I 3 attached thereto. Angularly grouped around one side of the contact stud H opposite to the anchoring lug I are the elongated contact members I4 and I5. These contact members are suitably anchored to the base 9 and each has an extension which terminates at the edge of the base 9 to provide the terminals I6 and I1 for their respective contact members. Wires I 8 and l 9 are suitably attached to these terminals.

On the base 9 of the terminal and contact unit and at the edge thereof behind and substantially to one side of the anchoring lug l is anchored the terminal 20. To this terminal are attached the Wires 2! and 22 so as to provide a permanent electrical connection between them.

The contact members l4 and I5 of the terminal and contact unit are spaced from each other and the contact stud I I and form open ended V-shaped recesses between them and the anchoring lug. These open ended V-shaped recesses, as well as the closed reentrant or V-shaped recess in the anchoring lug l, are adapted to have a movable connecting member of the switch project thereinto and provide a connection between the central contact stud and one or both of the contact members I4 and Hi. When projecting into the reentrant or V-shaped recess in the anchoring lug the movable connecting member is only in contact with the central contact stud and in this position the switch is off.

The movable contact member comprises a hollow member 23 which has a rounded and closed outer end with which it projects into the V- shaped recesses of the contact unit as above described. This movable connecting member is mounted to slide in the switch actuating member 24 and an expansion spring 25, carried by the movable contact member, operates to yieldingly hold the contact member in contact with the contacts and the anchoring lug of the switch. The switch actuating member 24 is provided with a semi-spherical extension 26 which is mounted to rock in a corresponding semi-spherical socket 21 provided in the cover 2 of the casing of the switch. The socket 21 is open in the center and a handle 29, carried by the semi-spherical portion of the switch actuating member 24, projects thru this open center to permit the operation. of the actuating member and move the movable contact member. In the open center of the socket 21 at the top of the cover 2 of the switch are provided recesses 39 which are arranged so that when the handle 29 of the actuating member angularly projects into one of them, the movable contact member, carried by the actuating member on the inside of the casing, will engage into the V-shaped recess provided by the contact members or the anchoring lug or both. In this way the handle 29 may be moved from one recess 30 to the other in order to move the movable contact member from one V-shaped recess to the other or the handle may be moved from one recess to the diagonally opposite recess in order to swing the movable contact member from one V-shaped recess across the contact stud l l to the oppositely located V-shaped recess. The movable contact member may thus be located at will in any one of the four V-shaped recesses provided in the anchoring lug I between the anchoring lug and the contact members and between the contact members. When the movable contact member is located in the V-shaped recess in the anchoring lug, the switch is in its off position because in this position the movable contact member does not connect the contact stud H with any other contact. When the movable contact member projects into the V-shaped recess between the anchoring lug 'l and the contact member M, the contact stud II is connected with the contact member l4 and current can flow from the wire l3 to the wire I 8. When the movable contact member projects into the V-shaped recess between the anchoring lug and the contact member IS, the contact stud II is connected with the contact member I4 and current can fiow from wire I3 to wire 19 and if the movable contact member projects into the V-shaped recess between the contact members It and !5, these contact members are connected with each other and the contact stud H so that current can flow from the wire 4 to both of the wires I3 and IS.

The words Off, Low, High and the abbreviation Med for medium are cast or suitably embossed in the cover of the casing of the switch as illustrated in Figure 1 and indicate the particular recess into which the handle 29 must be moved for the operation of the switch in the control of the heating units of a heating pad.

I claim:

1. An electric switch comprising a casing of insulating material, a combined anchoring member and guide member within said casing, a base plate removably held in place in said casing by said anchoring member, and fixed contact members carried by said base plate and held grouped thereby in predetermined positions with relation to said guide member, and a movable contact member movable from said insulating contact member to said fixed contact members of said base plate.

2. An electric switch comprising a casing, a substantially semi-spherical ball socket formed in said casing, a substantially semi-spherical actuating member mounted to oscillate in said pocket, a handle member projecting thru said casing for operating said actuating member, a contact member yieldingly mounted on said actuating member within said casing, a fixed insulated anchoring member within said casing, a base plate removably engaging said anchoring member, said yieldingly mounted contact member of said actuating member engaging said base plate to hold said base plate anchored to said anchoring member, and a plurality of fixed contact members carried by said base plate and held grouped to one side of said anchoring member to permit the movement of said yielding contact member from said anchoring member to said fixed contact members of said base plate.

3. An electrical switch comprising a casing, an actuating member mounted to rock in the top of said casing, a spring pressed contact member carried by said actuating member, a base plate removably mounted in the bottom of said casing, a central contact member carried by said base plate adapted to have said-spring pressed contact member slide thereover and therearound, a plurality of off-center contact members mounted on said base plate to one side of said central contact member and projecting there from to limit the lateral movement of said spring-pressed contact member, said plurality of contact members being spaced from said central contact member to cause said spring pressed contact member to bridge the gap between the central contact member and the oil-center contact members on its movement around said central contact member, and a combined guide member and anchoring member provided in the bottom of said casing and projecting thru said base plate to hold said base plate against lateral movement in said casing and provide a dummy contact member offset from said center contact member and substantially opposite to said first mentioned offset contact members on said base plate.

4. An electric switch comprising a casing, a combined anchoring member and guide member within said casing, a base plate held in said casing by said anchoring member, fixed contact members carried by said base plate in predetermined positions with relation to said guide member, and a movable contact member movable from said guide member to said fixed contact members.

5. An electric switch comprising a casing, a base plate removably mounted in said casing, fixed contact members carried by said base plate, a combined guide and electrically inactive contact member within said casing and arranged in predetermined relation to said fixed contact members, and a movable contact member movable from and guided by said combined guide and contact member to said fixed contact members.

6. An electric switch comprising a casing, a base plate held in place in said casing, a central contact member and a pair of angularly arranged contact members spaced from said central contact member concentric thereto and carried by said base plate, a dummy contact member spaced from said central contact member with faces parallel to said angularly arranged contact members, and a movable contact member adapted to move between and contacting said central contact member and said angularly arranged contact members and have the faces of said dummy contact member guide said movable contact member between said central contact member and one or the other of said angularly arranged contact members.

'7. An electric switch comprising a casing, a central contact member and a pair of angularly arranged contact members spaced from said central contact member concentric thereto within said casing, a dummy contact member spaced from said central contact member with faces parallel to said angularly arranged contact members and located diametrically opposite thereto, and a movable contact member mounted so as to move selectively between a portion of said central contact member and an angularly arranged contact member or between another portion of said central contact member and the angular faces of said dummy contact member.

8. In an electric switch, a plurality of fixed contact members having substantially linear sides which converge together to form a recess, supporting means therefor, a combined guide and electrically inactive contact member arranged in predetermined relation to said fixed contact members and positioned opposite said recess therebetween, and a movable contact member movable from and guided by said combined guide and contact member to said fixed members.

9. In an electric switch, a plurality of fixed contact members, supporting means therefor, a combined guide and electrically inactive contact 7 member arranged in predetermined relation to said fixed contact members, and a movable contact member movable from and guided by said combined guide and contact member to said fixed contact members, said fixed contact members being mounted relatively closely together and forming between adjacent fixed contact members a recess adapted to receive said movable contact member therein in simultaneous contact with both members of an adjacent pair of fixed contact members.

10. In an electric switch, a plurality of fixed contact members, supporting means therefor, an electrically inactive guide member provided with a reentrant recess mounted in fixed relation to said fixed contact members, said contact members and said guide member being arranged to form between them a restricted operating area with the reentrant recess of said guide member pointing inwardly substantially toward the center of said operating area, and a movable contact member movable in said operating area from and guided by and within the recess of said guide member to said fixed contact members, adjacent ones of said fixed contact members being mounted relatively closely together and forming between adjacent fixed contact members a recess adapted to receive said movable contact member therein in simultaneous contact with both members of an adjacent pair of fixed contact members.

11. In a switch, a movable contact member, means for mounting said movable contact member for lateral displacement in a plurality of lateral directions, a central fixed contact member, a plurality of lateral fixed contact members, an electrically inactive guide retaining member, and means for mounting said lateral fixed contact members and said guide retaining member in separate sectors circumferentially about said movable contact member, said movable contact member being selectively positionable to simultaneously contact said central fixed contact member and desired ones of said lateral fixed contact members.

12. In a switch, a movable contact member, means for mounting said movable contact member for lateral displacement in a plurality of lateral directions, a central fixed contact member, a plurality of lateral fixed contact members, an electrically inactive guide retaining member, and means for mounting said lateral fixed contact members and said guide retaining member in separate sectors circumferentially about said movable contact member for retaining said movable contact member at all times within an area contained between said fixed contact members and said guide retaining member, said movable contact member being selectively positionable to simultaneously contact said central fixed contact member and desired ones of said lateral fixed contact members.

13. In a switch, a movable contact member, means for rockably mounting said movable contact member for lateral displacement in a plurality of lateral directions, a central fixed contact member, a plurality of lateral fixed contact members, an electrically inactive guide retaining member provided with a reentrant recess, and means for mounting said lateral fixed contact members and said guide retaining member in separate sectors circumferentially about said movable contact member with the recess of said guide member facing toward said movable contact member, said movable contact member being selectively positionable to simultaneously contact said central fixed contact member and desired ones of said lateral fixed contact members.

HAROLD KENDALL ANDREWS. 

